Which chord is built on a major triad with a major seventh?

• A. Major Seventh Chord
• B. Dominant Seventh Chord
• C. Minor Seventh
• D. Half Diminished Seventh Chord

Answer: (A)

When you build a chord on a major triad and add a note that is a major seventh above the root, you get a major seventh chord. A major triad provides the root, a major third, and a perfect fifth; adding the major seventh above the root creates a color that’s bright and smooth, with a gentle pull to resolve up to the octave. The quality comes from having that major seventh interval, which is larger than the seventh in other common seventh chords. This is different from a dominant seventh, which uses a minor seventh above the root and sounds more tense; a minor seventh, which uses a minor triad with a minor seventh; and a half-diminished seventh, which uses a diminished triad with a minor seventh.